French Conversation · Level 153
30 words
French word
narine
Pronunciation
IPA/naʁin/
Meaning
- feminine nounnostril
Example
Il a une narine bouchée.
He has a blocked nostril.
More examples
Le docteur a examiné la narine gauche.
The doctor examined the left nostril.
Core concept
A separate opening on either side of the nose through which breathing air passes.
Common phrases
la narine gauche
the left nostril
la narine droite
the right nostril
Similar words
nez: The facial organ responsible for breathing and detecting odors.
Definition in French
Ouverture externe du nez par laquelle l'air entre et sort, au nombre de deux chez l'humain.
Word origin
French narine comes from Latin nāris by way of Old French, while English nares preserves the same Latin root in anatomical usage.
Usage tips
- Narine is useful when one side is specified, as in une narine bouchée, whereas nez usually names the nose more generally.